Oyster Farm Expansion Allowed at Eel Pond in Edgartown

Edgartown officials have given the go-ahead to two new oyster farms off Eel Pond.

Roy Scheffer and his son Jeremy Scheffer applied separately to operate oyster farms in the area known as the middle flats, about three-quarters of a mile out from the pond’s interior edge.

The two farms will be adjacent, and roughly 200 feet by 400 feet wide. Both men also operate oyster farms on Katama Bay.

Roy Scheffer told the conservation commission Wednesday that there would not be any rafts involved in the operation, just cages of oysters in about 15 feet of water.

He added that Eel Pond oyster farms have been previously approved by the state, but in a shallower area where there was too much muck to make growing viable.

The conservation commission Wednesday approved both applications, which have also been approved by the Edgartown selectmen and the shellfish committee.

The final step is a state survey of the proposed areas. Shellfish constable Paul Bagnall told the selectmen that he hoped the survey might extend to other plots as well in case more farmers from Katama want to expand to Eel Pond.

In other business at its meeting Wednesday, the commission approved emergency permits for ongoing work at the Chappaquiddick home of Jerry and Sue Wacks near Wasque. Erosion is now seriously threatening the home.

The commission approved emergency permits for the short-term use of sand bags at the site (the homeowners were already permitted for some sand bags, but the work was not completed), as well as using a new access road. The original driveway is no longer accessible by car.

An emergency permit was also approved to demolish a portion of the house. Geoffrey Kontje, the general contractor for the project, said the plan is to retain part of the home farther away from the shoreline and to demolish the rest. Mr. Kontje said the plan is to salvage what they can. “Windows and doors and anything we can reuse,” he said. The demolition will be triggered when the bank is close enough that the ability to do the demolition is compromised, he said.

James Greer, who represents the homeowners, said the bank is holding steady at about 21 feet away from the house.